Greenport chooses new village administrator

The Village of Greenport named a new village administrator Tuesday night following a brief executive session after its regularly scheduled work session.

Paul Pallas of Manorville is slated to filled the open position pending labor contract negotiations, Trustee George Hubbard said after the meeting. Mr. Pallas has more than 30 years of electric and gas utility experience. He most recently served as the superintendent of the Village of Rockville Centre and is the president of the New York Association of Public Power.

“I’m extremely pleased,” Mayor David Nyce said after the appointment. “He is extremely qualified. We are lucky to have him.”

The mayor said board received a “stack” of resumes for the position after current administrator David Abatelli announced his retirement in December. The search appeared to be narrowed down to two candidates — Mr. Pallas and David Smollett of Lynbrook — who were interviewed in an executive session earlier this month.

Mr. Pallas is expected to shadow the longtime village administrator until he official steps down later this year. In addition taking on the role of village administrator, Mr. Pallas will also be responsible for performing the duties of village utilities director— another position that was vacated in 2013.

Those two positions carried a combined salary of $192,000 in 2013, records show. Mr. Pallas earned about $138,000 in Rockville Centre last year.